DOMINION NEWS

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1943, Page 1

DOMINION NEWS

WATERFRONT CONTROL. WELLINGTON, May 11. Some time ago the Waterfront Control Commission took over the employment of members of the Wellington Foremen’s Union so that they could exercise full supervision in the work of loading and discharging ships under the co-operative contract system. The foremen have endeavoured to get tfic Commission to increase I heir races of pay and improve their conditions, but as no agreement, had been arrived at late last week the foremen as a protest refused to work overtime. This has left the work on lhe ships to be carried out without supervision, a position that has continued for some days. The Commission apparently has not been able to ‘Tter the- position or made any further offer to -the men.

It is understood that the latest move of the Foremen’s Union is to apply for admittance to the Watersiders’ Union. This has a limited membership, and difficulty has been experienced in the past at some ports in local branches of the Watersiders’ Union allowing sufficient members to join to keep up the full strength provided in the agreements with the shipowners. It is understood that the question of admittance of members of the Foremen’s Union will be considered at a slop-work meeting of the Watersiders’ Union.

SCHOOL LEAVING AGE.

WELLINGTON. May 11

The raising of the school leaving age bv a year was forecast by the Minister _of Education (Mr. Mason) at the opening of the Diamond Jubilee meeting of the New Zealand Educational Institute. The measure would come before Parliament at the coming session, he said. Other countries had raised the leaving age above that of New Zealand, which was behind in adequate school buildings and the requisite number of teachers. But if they waited for both buildings and teachers thev would wait a long time, “therefore the Government resolved to remedy the situation and before the year is out a change will be made.” The Prime Minister. (Mr. Fraser) in his address said: “I agree with Mr. Mason and the step will have to be taken. First, the age will have to be raised to 15, and then 16. The teaching profession will have to put up with the -of overcrowding" until new buildings can be built and more teachers trained.'-’'

PRODUCTION COUNCIL MEETING. WELLINGTON, May 11. Mr Barclay' addressed a meeting jf farmers 'nt Maungatapere last night. Regarding Production Council meetings, he said that personally he did nol reseni criticism, but some things which could not bo made public were dealt with by the councils, for which reason the National Council had decided upon the exclusion of lhe Press. He had never suggested such action in connection with meetings of the Farmers’ Union, which had the right to fight for its causes. No section of the community stood to gain more by stabilisation than farmers. It did not ’ mean minimum prices, but guaranteed prices.

BIG WHISKY THEFT. p.A. AUCKLAND, May 10. A sequel to the theft of 708 bottles of whisky valued at £575 from Hutchinsons ’ (Wholesale), Ltd., between December 10, 1942, and February) 25, was heard when William James Henry, a boot finisher, aged 41, (Mr. Dickson), appeared before Justices of the Peace on a charge of receiving stolen property. William Farmilo said that he had formerly been employed as a storeman by Hutchinson’s Ltd., land he and the accused had come to an arrangement. whereby the accused was to order beer from the firm and the witness was to substitute whisky for the beer. The witness was to get 30s. for every bottle of whisky supplied to the accused, plus one-third of whatever the accused got. The accused had said that he expected to get between £4 and £7 a bottle. The witness and the accused had been the only two who- had handled orders. The witness had stolen 59 cases of whisky from the store and was at proseni ' awaiting sentence on the charge.

The witness added that he had received £250 from the accused, and should have received between £2,000 and £3,000. In March the Witness and the accused had a fight over money, matters. To 'counsel the witness said he- had net tried to blackmail the accused. The accused pleaded nut guilty and was committed'to the Supreme Court, for trial. Rail was renewed. AUCKLAND, May 10

A welcome fall of rain at the weekend at Auckland has made the city water position considerably less critical and improved the outlook for the week. However, it was emphasised to-day that the supply was being maintained in a hand to mouth fashion with aid from many temporary sources, and that more economy, not less, would be called for until further notice.